5 Beats 1 Radio Shows For Hip-Hop Fans

Did the big names make the cut, or did some unexpected names conquer hip-hop in the first few weeks of Beats 1?

Since launching earlier this month, Apple Music has swept the rug from under TIDAL’s feet and made a markedly successful splash, delivering a diverse catalogue of options for their new Beats Radio 1 feature. Providing 24/7 entertainment and quality-listening for such a large market can be challenging, but Apple has pulled it off-- especially when it comes to options for hip-hop fans. With Drake serving as the spokesperson of this venture for Apple and with Dr. Dre's Beats providing the name for the partner station, you had to expect a lot of content.

Since there's so much to choose from, we have delved into the existing library and selected five Beats 1 radio shows that any hip-hop fan should listen too.

Click along and check it out. Be sure to let us know which Beats 1 radio show is your favorite thus far, regardless of whether or not it's on the list.

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OVO Sound Radio

There’s a reason why Drake is the poster child of Apple Music - in fact there’s a ton of reasons. He’s the biggest commodity in the industry today, but what’s more is he’s fully buying into the Apple Music philosophy of being a platform for artists to build connections with their audience through music. If his enthusiastic interview with fellow Apple Beats Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe (available to listen to on Apple Music Connect) wasn’t enough to convince you of Drizzy’s capability to be the figurehead of this venture, then his debut episode of the collaborative OVO Sound Radio show should have silenced your doubts. Drake debuted new music from himself and other native Toronto emcees (keeping it with The 6, of course) while delivering dueling mixes from himself and OVO co-founder Oliver El-Khatib. One can only imagine that this show will be the place to look for Drake news and track releases from his upcoming Views from the 6 album moving forward. Drake’s show debuted on Saturday, July 11th at 6 PM. No official slot has been announced yet.

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The Pharmacy

Obviously Dr. Dre’s name would appear on this list. Dropping at a limited twice-a-month rate, Dr. Dre’s "The Pharmacy" is a must-listen for any hip-hop aficionado. On the first episode alone Dre dropped a playlist worthy of relistening to over and over again that’s got a surprising amount of East Coast stuff-- including former rivals Diddy and Biggie Smalls. Rapper/producer Dre also spoke on the late J. Dilla and paid his own respects to his fellow fallen beat-maker.

It’s moments like these that make what Apple is doing special, and what makes "The Pharmacy" a dream come true for any rap nut. Cure a hangover with the Doctor himself every other Saturday at 3:00 PM.

Zane Lowe on Beats 1

Zane Lowe isn’t necessarily synonymous with hip-hop, but he's definitely synonymous with good radio. For good reason, too, with a long-running history of pioneering the scene over in England on his BBC Radio 1 show, which ran a historic 13-year run. Now, Lowe brings his talents to Apple Beats Radio 1, which his BBC show inspired (Trent Reznor confessed this to Rolling Stone), and has already delivered for hip-hop fans, dropping interviews with Eminem and Drake. Lowe’s aptly titled "Zane Lowe on Beats 1" show has already delivered in Apple’s Music infancy (Drake premiered his stunning video for “Energy” on this program), one can only hope the show will deliver on moments like his infamous interviews with Kanye West. Zane Lowe is putting in his hours, with a show Monday through Thursday at 12 PM.

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Abstract Radio

You’d expect a fantastic radio show out of A Tribe Called Quest founder and moonlight live DJ Q-Tip. He doesn’t disappoint on his weekly Beats 1 Radio show, which delivers hip-hop hits as well as classics. Q doesn’t stop there, though. "Abstract Radio" is just that, abstract, and covers a smorgasbord of genres. While the songs may stray away from his native hip-hop genre, it’s still a master course in musical influence. The program’s catalogue offers afrobeat and rock stylings that feel like breadcrumbs to the kinds of music that was influencing Tribe’s sound. Tune in to "Abstract Radio" Fridays at 10 P.M. before you go out to the club.

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WRTJ

WRTJ, brought to you by the tandem of El-P and Killer Mike aka Run the Jewels, is a show that offers listeners the opportunity to kick back and relax with two respected emcees and shoot the shit. El-P and Killer Mike riff on silly topics of conversation (like the below clip of a spirited Unicorns vs. Dragons debate), while also delivering vibrant mixes that span from Big K.R.I.T. to the Rolling Stones. This is the show to tune into if you’re looking for a more talky show with some hip-hoppers with some great music to boot.